Stories from Wednesday, January 14, 2015

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor HILLSBORO, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man recently pleaded guilty as charged to multiple felonies, including statutory sodomy, in Jefferson County. Samuel Anquiano Gonzales, 49, of the 900 block of Hickory Street pleaded guilty Tuesday to the unclassified felony of first-degree statutory sodomy, the Class B felony of abuse of a child and the Class A felony of sexual exploitation of a minor before Judge Robert Wilkins, according to entries in Casenet, Missouri's online court reporting system.. ...

Buggies targeted Bikes dropped from liability law bill By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A Missouri state representative is proposing legislation that non-motorized vehicles such as horse drawn carriages possess liability insurance to operate on state highways...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Details for Ag Expo 2015 Jan. 30 - 31 at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff nearing completion, said Phyllis Flanigan, Butler County program director of University of Missouri Extension. This is the 29th year for the Ag Expo, which is one of the largest farm trade shows in the region. The event is sponsored by Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., woman is to make her first court appearance Wednesday morning after recently being charged with possessing crystal methamphetamine with intentions of distributing it. Amber Michelle Medlin 29, is to appear before Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield for arraignment on the Class B felony of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor If approved by Congress, President Barack Obama's free tuition plan should boost enrollment at community colleges and technical schools, but there are concerns. "A lot of pieces are unknown," Dr. Wesley Payne, president of Three Rivers College, said Monday. "We don't know how it will interact with current financial aid."...

SIKESTON, Mo. (SMNS)-- Police are looking for two men who have been charged with murder in connection with a homicide that occurred at 5:40 p.m. Sunday in Sikeston. The victim, Christopher Qurvon West, 31, of Sikeston was still in his vehicle, which was facing north in the middle of North Main Street, near College Street, when he was shot once in the head and died immediately, according to Capt. James McMillen of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Former Carter County Collector Jennifer Clark-Williams pleaded guilty Monday morning to a lesser stealing charge and agreed to reimburse the county for the expenses it incurred investigating her theft, as well as pay back the money she stole...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- No criminal charges will be filed against former Carter County prosecuting attorney Rocky Kingree after he returned the files belonging to the county. On New Year's Eve, outgoing Carter County Presiding Commissioner John Bailiff reported several boxes involving the Lance Shockley case had been retained by Kingree, explained Carter County Sheriff Rick Stephens...

By MONA CHAREN Nine months from now, Republican candidates for president will meet on the stage of the Reagan Presidential Library (with the old Air Force One providing great visuals) for the first debate of the 2016 race. It seems likely that among those in attendance will be at least four -- Chris Christie, Bobby Jindal, Mike Huckabee and Jeb Bush -- who support (or once supported) the Common Core. ...

Area students were named to the Southeast Missouri State University Dean's List for the fall 2014 semester. Students on the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12 degree credit hours during the fall session...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "If you see 10 troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you," said Calvin Coolidge, whose portrait hung in the Cabinet Room of the Reagan White House. Among the dispositions shared by the two conservatives was a determination to stay out of other people's wars...

Where's the transparency What has happened to all the transparency Mayor Pearson and the new council members talked about? She at one time wanted the council packets made available to the citizens before the council meeting. Now, budgets and documents are withheld from the public and the DAR at the council meetings. ...

Nina McGonigal Nina McGonigal, 58, of Doniphan, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at her residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan and will be announced upon completion.

Wesley "Buddy" Keele WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo.-- Wesley L. "Buddy" Keele, 69, of Greenville, formerly of Williamsville, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Buddy was born May 1, 1945, at Williamsville, son of William Virgil Keele and Wilma Costephens Keele. ...

Johnny Redus Johnny Redus, 78, of Gatewood, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan and will be announced upon completion.

Glendle Griffin FISK, Mo. -- Glendle H. Griffin, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Griffin was born Feb. 22, 1928, at Gideon, Mo. He had served in the Navy. He had worked at Florsheim Shoe. He was an avid horseman and rode with the Cardiac Cowboys...

To the Editor: I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Poplar Bluff community for supporting "Dancing With the P.B. Stars." This is a major fundraiser for Sacred Heart Catholic School and it is inspiring to see so many participate for its betterment...

Heather Nicole and Gabriel Denais Cantu of Poplar Bluff have chosen the name Trinity Denais Cantu for their 7-pound, 8-ounce daughter born Sunday, Jan. 4, 2014 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family Birthplace in Cape Girardeau. Trinity was 19 1/4 inches long...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Standing at the intersection of three foreign policy crises and a perennial constitutional tension, Bob Corker, R-Tenn., incoming chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, may be the senator who matters most in 2015. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- There's an old Cold War joke -- pre-pantyhose -- that to defeat communism we should empty our B-52 bombers of nuclear weapons and instead drop nylons over the Soviet Union. Flood the Russians with the soft consumer culture of capitalism, seduce them with Western contact and commerce, love bomb them into freedom...

Emma White Emma Joanne White, 72, of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at her residence. There are no services planned. Announcement compliments of Cotrell Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.cotrellfuneralservice.com

Some advice for Kaplan I have some advice for Kaplan -- if I were you I wouldn't be buying a house here in Poplar Bluff or even signing a long-term lease!! -- and maybe keep your bags packed!! City stole $6 M from utilities The city stole about $6 million from the municipal utilities department when they sold the city cable and did not repay the loan. ...

Shirley Stott Shirley Stott, 80, of Poplar Bluff, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, at her residence. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

Kitsey Shepard Kitsey Shepard, 81, of Stringtown passed away Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, at her residence. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

BROSELEY -- Jabreuna Brimlett's steal and layin put Poplar Bluff ahead in the final minute and the Lady Mules hit free throws when it mattered most Monday night. Poplar Bluff, which missed 9 of 11 free throws through the first three quarters, sank all six in the final 1:34 to edge host Twin Rivers 56-54...

Genevieve Arnold DEXTER, Mo.-- Genevieve Arnold, 83, of Dexter, died Jan. 10, 2015, at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Alice Fowler officiating...

Verl Leonard McNece Verl Leonard McNece, 77, of Greenville, Ill., formerly of Bernie, Mo died Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at Greenville Regional Hospital in Greenville, Ill. Visitation will be Wednesday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie from noon to 2 p.m. with funeral services following at 2 p.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel...

NAYLOR -- Junior Kenzy Smith scored her 1,000th career point Monday as the Greenville Lady Bears took an Ozark Foothills Conference win over Naylor, 37-32 Smith led Greenville, which had won six straight games, with 10 points. Sierra Bennett scored seven of her nine points in the first half while Lizzy Hefner scored all five of her points in the fourth quarter...

Herbert John Luke MALDEN -- Herbert John Luke, 87, of Gideon, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, in the Gideon Care Center in Gideon, Mo. Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday with the funeral service following at 11 a.m. in the Bradshaw Chapel with the Rev. Keith Luke officiating. Burial will be in Elder Cemetery in Campbell, Mo...

Poplar Bluff alum Miranda Burroughs was named Alabama-Birmingham's student-athlete of the week Thursday. Shortly before the 5-foot-3 guard was honored by UAB, she went 3-for-4 shooting for 10 points in a loss to Middle Tennessee on Jan. 4 and had eight points and four rebounds in a loss to Florida Atlantic on Thursday...

R-I Schools closed Friday Poplar Bluff R-I Schools will be closed on Friday, Jan. 16, for teacher collaboration day and on Monday, Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday. The regular class schedule will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 20...

Helen Irene Denney Helen Irene Denney, 89, of Poplar Bluff, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2015 at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.